Strand-tensioning device



June 21 1927.

G. A. BOUVIER STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 x e/vfar 66076 A. Bow M Aff] June 21,1927. 3 ,876

. G. A. BOUVIER STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30. 1925 Z Shasta-Sheet 2 m venfqr Gear eAflaz/v/e/ 46 b a5 4 45 4 m/, #y

Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STAT as PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALFRED BOUVIER', E 0A1: PARK,

ILL'IjNois, AssrGNon' 'ro WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMIEANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N; Y., A conroRA'rIoN 01 NEW YORK.

Application filed September This invention relates to strand tensioning devices, and more particularly to devices for applying tension to astrand as it is withdrawn from a package thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved strand tensioning mechanism, by means of which a strand may be safely withdrawn from a package at a high rate of speed.

The inventionis of particular utility in balancing the changing effect on the tension of a strand, due to the change in the torque moment when a full and reduced diameter strand package is employed. Aportion of l the mechanism is also of greater utility when a so-called universal Wound strand package is employed.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the strand package is supported by a spindle which has a disc rotatable therewith, and friction is applied to the face of the disc by a friction member held resiliently thereagainst. A'bell crank lever has one arm equipped with a guide overwhich the strand is withdrawn from the package, and the other armthereof c0ntrolsmeans tova'ry the pressure of'the friction member on the spindle disc. As the strand is withdrawn it passes over a-curved stud; positioned lengthwise of the package and which is designed tomaintain substan-- tially the same length ofstrandibetween the package and a common guiding point or the point of application thereof, independently of location ofthe pointof withdrawal along the package, and thus insure an evenunwinding of the package.-

Other objects and featuresof the invention will become more apparent from the. following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a strand unwinding and tensi'oning deviceembodying the main-features of the invention;-

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same-mechanism, and

Fig; 3-is anirregular fragmentary section takenon' the line 3-3 of-Fig., 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the: drawings: in which like numerals are' employedto *des ignate corresponding: members throughout thesere'rals views, the numeral refers to the member- 25.

STRAND-TENSIONING DEVICE.

30, 1925; Serial No. 59 468.

a base plate of an unwinding and tensioning device, which is suitably secured to a main frame 11 of a strand working machine, which may be of any suitable type and is notshown in the drawing because it iS'not essential to an understanding of the invention. A spindle holding member 13 is se cured in the plate 10 by a set screw 14 and supports a spindle 15 for a cop or, package 16 0f strand 22 (Fig. 2), bearings 17 and 18 (Fig. 3) being provided to permit free rotation of the spindle and an assembling nut 19 being secured to a threaded portion on one end of the spindle shank. The bearings 17 and 18 may be mounted in any convenient manner, but in the drawing, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, the inner race of the bearing 17 is clamped between the hub portion of a disc'member 20 which is secured to thespindle and a sleeve or bushing 21 in which the spindleis free to rotate. The innor raceof the bearing 18 issecured between the sleeve 21and the assembling nut 19. In

this manner the spindle 15;,- disc member 20, the inner races of the ball bearings, the

sleeve 21 and the assembling nut 19 all rotate together. The outer race of the bearing 17 is secured in any suitable mannerto member 13,.and the outer race of the bearing 18'is securedbetween a shoulder on the member 13 and a set screw'23which is threaded in the member 1 3'and' Which also acts as a cover to prevent the entrance of dust into the bearings. A ring member 25 having comparatively long:- "pitched threads as shown, is pinned at 26 to the member 18, and-a gear member 30 is provided with internal threads which engage the threads on v I One face of the member 30 is provided with an annular recess for balls 3131,-which also ride in an annular recess in a member 32 which engages coil springs 83"be'aring against a friction member 3 1, a friction disc 35 being: inserted between the friction member 34: and the member 20' to prevent too great wear of these members. Asshown in Fig- Qfriction member 34' is cup shap'ed and thus furnishes a housing for other portions of themechanism, and is keyed with the member 32 to the stationary member 13'wherebylongitudinal motion is permitted butno rotary motion' is possible. The mechams'mdescribed in the'preceding pivoted thereon.

paragraph permits withdrawal of a strand from the package 16 and will also permit tensioning of the strand by friction between the members 20, 35 and 34 as controlled by the springs 33 and associated mechanism. Rotation of the member causes it to move relative to the member 25 on which 'itis threaded, resulting in an increase or decrease in the compression of the springs 33,

thereby increasing or decreasing the amount of friction between the membersQO, and 34. The tension in the strand, however, is utilized to control the friction between these members by means of the portions of the mechanism now to be described.

A pivot stud 40 is secured to the plate 10 by means of a nut 41 and a bellcranklever generally designated by the numeral 42 is A short arm of the bell crank is provided with a gear segment 43 which meshes'with the member 30, and the long arm of the bell crank is provided with an elongated guide pulley comprising essentially a slecve45 which turns freely on i bearings 46, 46 on a stud 85 which is suitably secured to the bell crank lever. The sleeve 45 acts as an idler roller and guide for the strand, which is permitted to travel from end to end thereof as it is being withdrawn from the package.

The bell crank 42*is provided with an integral sleeve 50 parallel to axis thereof, which sleeve houses a coil spring 51, one end of the spring being secured at, 53 to the sleeve, and the other end being secured at- 54 to a hub portion on the pivot stud 40.

A nut 55 threaded to the free end of the pivot stud 40 is pinned thereto at 56 and engages a flanged washer 57 whiohfunctions as a thrust bearing for the adjacent portion of the sleeve 50. The tension spring 51 is regulated by loosening the nut 41, rotating the pivot stud 40 in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction to either in crease or decrease the tension as required and then again tightening the nut 41 While employing tensioning devices heretofore in use, when astrand is being withdrawn from a package it is obvious that when its point of withdrawal or take 01f from the package and the point to which it is beingsupplied are in a plane which 1s not vertical 'to theaxis of the package, a greater length of strand exists between these points than when theyare in a plane which is verticalto the axis of the package. Ex

plicitly, if a strand is being withdrawn from a package to a point which is midway between the ends of the package, the greatest length of strand will be between this polnt and the package when the strand is being withdrawn from the extreme end; and the shortest length of strand when it is being withdrawn from the center portionof the package. When operating at very high speeds with previously used tensioning devices this condition leads to a jerking action which is considerably magnified when a socalled universal wound package is employed, since the point of withdrawal of the strand from the package rapidly shifts from end to end thereof.

This condition is obviated in the present invention by providing a curved stud 60 over which the strand passes as it is withdrawn from the package and which serves as auxiliary tension regulating means. The stud 60 is so shaped that there is always substantially the same length of strand betweenvarious parts on the package and a fixed point, for example the point at which the strand is associated with a guide or other portions of 'a strand working mechanism, for which the package may serve as a su ply, which guide is indicated schematical y by the numeral 86 (Fig. 2). t

Then employing a mechanism embodying the features of the present invention, the pressure between the disc member 20 and the friction member 34 is regulated by loosening the set screw 14 and turning the member 13 to the right or left, meanwhile holding the bell crank lever 42 in a stationary. position. This causes a rotation of the member 13 with the otherportions of the mechanism associated therewith, with the exception of the member 30 which is prevented from turning by its engagement with the gear segment on the bell crank lever. The turning of these portions results in an increased or decreased tension in the springs 33. 33 and the set screw 14 is again tightened to hold the parts in the new position. The tension of the spring 51 is then regulated in the manner described to balance the tension in the springs 33, 33.

When the mechanism has been adjusted,

the package 16 is placed upon the spindle in which, as shjown,splines having been formed to prevent rotationof the package thereupon- The strand 22 is then with drawn from the package any suitable means (not shown), brought around the curved stud 60 (shown particularly in Fig. 2),over' the guide member" 45, and thence to the point 86. As the strand is withdrawn, should the tension therein become too great, the bell. crank leverwill rotate in a counterclockwise direction, thus turning the member 30upon the threads of the member 25' and decreasing the tension of the springs 33, 33, resulting in a decreased pressure between the disc member 20 and the memhere 35 and 34. Should the tensionin the strand become too slight, the bell crank lever will rotate about its pivot in a clockwise direction, whereby the opposite result will tak place and the friction between the members will be increased.

The principalipurposeof the mechanism lit) is "to regulate the tension of the strand as the size of-the package- 1s decreased. When a full package is placed on the spindle the torque moment, due to the pull of the strand tendingto rotate the spindle, is at a maximum. Thus, the friction must also be at a maximum with a full strand package. The tension of the springs are so arranged that the guide member on the end of the bell crank will be drawn to aposition farthest away from the package when the package is full. When this takes place the tension will be increased in the manner described. As the package reduces in diameter the friction becomes too high to balance the shortening torque arm with the result that the pull and consequent tension on the strand tends to increase. This tendency to increased tension of the strand, however, results in a slight shift of the guide member and a consequent small rotation of the bell crank and member 30 to release the pressure between the friction members. In operation the correction in friction takes place smoothly and steadily.

In service the member 34 may become worn and result in a change of position of the bell crank lever. This condition may be corrected, however, by loosening the set screw 14 and rotating the member 13 in the same manner as described above in adjusting the tension.

Although for purposes of description, de tails of one embodiment of the invention have been given in particular, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

lVhatis claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for regulating the tension of a strand as it is withdrawn from a package thereof, a stationary member, a spindle for holding a strand package and rotatably mounted in the stationary member, a disc member rotatable with the spindle, a friction member coaxial therewith, resilient means associated with the friction member, a member associated with the resilient means for maintaining the friction member in engagement with the disc member, said member associated with the resilientmeans being threaded on the stationary member and having a gear toothed section associated therewith, a bell crank having a gear segment on one arm thereof engaging the toothed section of the member associated with the resilient means, a strand guiding member associated with the other arm thereof over which the strand is withdrawn, the bell crank actuating in response to changes in the tension of the strand as it passes over the guiding member. thereby rotating the member associated with the resilient means to vary the effectiveness of sa-id resilient means.

2. In a mechanism for regulating the ten sion of a strand as it is withdrawnfroma package thereof, a stationary member, a spindle for holding a strand package and rotatably mounted in the stationary mei'nber, a disc member rotatablewith the spindle, a friction member coaxial therewith, resilient means associated with the friction member, a tensioning member associated therewith to maintain the friction member in engagement with the disc member, said tensioning member being threaded on the stationary member and having a gear toothed section associated therewith, a bell crank having a gear segment on one arm thereof engaging the toothed section of the tensioning member, a strand guiding member associated with the other arm thereof and responsive to the tension of the strand as it passes over the guiding member to actuate the bell crank and thereby regulate the pressure of the friction member on the disc member, and a resilient member associated with the bell crank lever to limit the pivotal action thereof.

8. In a mechanism for regulating the tension of a strand as it is withdrawn froma package thereof, a stationary member, a spindle for holding a strand package and rotatably mounted in the stationary member, a disc member rotatable with the spindle, a friction member coaxial therewith, resilient means associated with the friction member, a tensioning member associated with the resilient means to maintain the friction member in engagement with the disc member, said tensioning member being threaded on the stationary member and having a gear toothed section associated therewith, a bell crank lever having a gear segment on one arm thereof engaging the toothed section of the tensioning member, a strand guiding member associated with the other arm thereof, and responsive to the tension of the strand as it passes over the guiding member serving to actuate the bell crank and thereby regulate the pressure of the friction member on the disc member, a resilient member associated with the bell crank lever to limit the pivotal action thereof, and separate means for changing the tension of the resilient means associated with the tenion member and the resilient member associated with the bell crank lever.

4. The combination with mechanism for withdrawing a strand sequentially from a plurality of points on a package thereof to a relatively fixed point, and mechanism for providing a predetermined tension in the strand as it is withdrawn, of auxiliary tension regulating means serving to maintain a constant length of strand between the fixed point and each of the plurality of points.

5. The combination with mechanism for withdrawing a strand sequentially from a plurality of points on a package thereof to a relatively fixed point, and mechanism for providing a predetermined tension in the strand as it is withdrawn, of auxiliary tension regulating means serving to maintain a constantlength of strand between the fixed point and each of the plurality of points, said means comprising a member over which the strand passes and which is designed to bow? the strand varying degrees as. it passes thereover.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of Sept. A. D. 1925.

GEORGE ALFRED BOUVIER. 

